Ironing table structure



March 4, 1941.

H. B. FAY

IRONING- TABLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 6, 1958 ATTQ EYS not in use.

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE- IRONING TABLE STRUCTURE Horace B. Fay, Willoughby, Ohio, assis or to Gridiron Steel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application August 6, 1938, Serial No. 223,441

' 5 Claims.

The present invention, relating as indicated to ironing tables, is particularly concerned with the manufacture of a metallic structural element adapted for use as the top of an ironing table or analogous structure in which strength, absence of fire danger, low weight and low cost are important. The invention, while adapted for various uses as will be evident from its construction as hereinafter described will here be illustrated in the form of a folding ironing table of generally conventional type.

The object of my invention is to provide a metal ironing table which combines convenient weight to sufficient strength, and which has in addition the safety factor which no wooden table can have, namely, the complete elimination of any fire hazard. A further object is to provide a metal ironing board so constructed and designed that a heating element can be included within the box-like board structure with absolute freedom from fire danger. Other objects will be apparent in the subsequent description.

Folding ironing boards have been in use for many years and consist of a fiat top made from a single piece of wood and folding legs either of wood or metal hinged to the lower surface of the board to fold flat against the board proper when In this structure the wooden top is obviouslythe weakest element because it is subjected to severe and varying conditions such as heat from the ironing operation, bending moments at the outer unsupported end which is spaced a very considerable distance from the f-orward legs, compression from the irons weight and the pressure imposed upon it by the user. The repeated absorption and yielding up of moisture,

the gradual further drying out of the wood in some climates, and the rough usage result in checking, warping, cracking and finally in the breaking of the top.

Various attempts have been made to produce a metal top for an ironing table for analogous uses but without success. The requirements of such an article are severe and varied. I-ts cost and weight must approximate closely those of a wooden top. It must have uniform minimum resistance substantially all over its surface to the operating pressure of the iron and it must withstand severe bending strains imposed upon its forward overhanging end portion which is unsupported for a considerable distance. This end portion is also weakened by being narrowed with respect to the width of the main portion of the board in order to accommodate shlnts, sleeves and the like which are slipped over the extending end. For example, a conventional board is approximately four and one-half feet long, one and onequarter feet wide, and in wood weighs from seven and one-half to nine and one-half pounds, depending upon .the particular wood used and the amount of contained moisture at any given time. It must support forty pounds on the extended narrow end with-out undue deflection, setting or break-age, and it must withstand transverse bending strains of more than that amount. Previous attempts at metal boards have weighed 50% to more than the conventional wooden boards, at two .to three times the cost.

My improved board has the strength and weight of a wooden board at a comparable cost. It secures these characteristics by fabricating a given weight 'of metal in the form, of sheets into a closed box-like structure of a predetermined minimum compressive strength over its entire area with high resistance to bending moments longitudinally, transversely and diagonally. Its box-like characteristic not only gives it extreme strength for its weight, butlends itself perfectly to the inclusion of electrical heating elements to warm the upper surface and facilitate and hasten the ironing operation, which is one purpose to which the board may be adapted, as is shown and claimed in my copending division-a1 application Serial No. 304,096, filed Nov. 13, 1939.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ironing board mounted on a set of folding legs;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of a form showing supporting ribs;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 is shown an ironing table consisting of a top Tand a conventional set of folding legs l2 suitably secured thereto, the legs being shown in their extending position and being foldable forwardly about their hinge attachment I6 to the top, .the forward rods I'I being hinged to the legs l8 as well as the rear supporting rods 19.

In Figs. 2 and 3 a preferred form of construction is shown in which the bottom sheet 28 is formed into a series of continuous longitudinal ribs 29, the flat portions 30 in contact with the top sheet being welded thereto at spaced intervals. In this form lateral stiffness is necessarily sacrificed and it is desirable to use several lateral braces or ribs 3| which will be cut out as at 32 to fit over the longitudinal ribs and which may have flattened ears 33 which fit against the ribbed sheet 23 so as to be welded thereto and to the top as well.

To aid in obtaining the desired longitudinal strength without excessive weight, the edges of the two sheets are flanged downwardly and then rolled or bent to form a stiifening flange 84 completely around and under the edge or periphery of the board or top T. 5 should be-suiiicient to prevent lateral buckling and the depth should be such as to supplement the stiffness of the box top proper and increase the strength of the entire structure. The use of such flange It is for practical or commercial I reasons rather than strictly structural strength as it allows .for the use of very thin sheetsand ,proiections of a depth that are easily pressed into the sheet. By this construction, the two.

sheets are formed into a braced girder construcil' tlon as well as being formed into merely a box and the strength or stifl'ness of the board increased.

'The weight and thickness of the two sheets of metalforming the board or top should of course so be such as to obtain the desired lightness and strength, approximating those of a wooden board such as'is now in general use. To obtain these results, the depth of the projections and their size must be closely determined in'order to obg5 tain maximum strength with the desired weight. The use of a reinforcing flange aids in obtaining the necessary longitudinal strength. particularly with the overhang usually employed at the nose of the board. The height of the projections is an limited by the stretch of the metal employed and the spacing therebetween. From the foregoing it may be observed that my metal board combines the strength of a newwooden top' withthe desirability 'of long life of as metal. The useof my metal top eliminates the cracking and warping of a wooden top, but its,

greatest advantageis the complete elimination .of the flre hazard always heretofore present. I The cost of a metal top as described above approxi- 40 mates that of a wooden top.

In addition, my metal top, being formed in a box-like structure with upper and lower sheets being spaced apart by metallic members, provides natural and necessary avenues in which heating 5 coils can be placed so as to give a uniform distribution and consequent uniform temperature all over the board top. i Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly form said two sheets into a rigid ironing table top, and spaced transverse braces secured to the lower face of the board with one of said braces being located in said tapered nose portion.

2. In an ironing table top, the combination of 70 two metal sheets placed in juxtaposition, and

'means for spacing the two sheets consisting of a series of continuous longitudinal ribs pressed out. of the lower sheet, these ribs being rigidly secured The width of this dance to the top sheet, the edges of said two sheets being formed into a continuous down-turned flange terminating in a hollow head of substantial crosssection, and cross braces secured to the under side of said ribs and said bead to provide in- .5 creased transverse stiflness."

3. In an ironing table top. the combination of two metal sheets placed in juxtaposition, and means for spacing the two sheets consisting of a series of continuous longitudinal ribs pressed 10 out of the lower-sheet, these ribs being rigidly IQ? cured to the top sheet, the edge of said top sheet being formed into acontinuous down-turned flange and having its lower edge portion formed into a hollow bead enclosing the raw edge of the bottom sheet and preventing hand contact with the raw edge of the flange material.

7 4. A sheet metalironing board having at one end a tapered nose portion, said board consisting ofa thin, flexible metal sheet, said sheet being of insuflicient strength to support the normal ironing pressure independently, and reinforcing means for said sheet, said means comprising a set of primary reinforcing members, certain of I which form an edge support for the tapered nose,

other reinforcing members extending longitudinally to and being secured to the extremityof. said nose edge support to provide reinforcement agalnst -flexing any portion of said sheet and against longitudinal bending of said sheet. and

-a set of spaced secondary reinforcing members extending transversely of said board to provide I against transverse bendingand to form with said sheet and said set of primary members a relatively rigid unitary ironingboard, at least one of said secondary members being'in said tapered nose portion and; engaging and lnterflttingwith said other longitudinal primary members extending'into the nose portion.

5. A sheet metal ironing board having a sub- 40 stantially rectangular body portion and a tapered nose portion, said board consisting of a thin, relatively '-flat, flexible metal sheet forming the ironingsurface and of insufllcient strength to support the normal ironing pressure independently, 4s

and reinforcing means for ,said sheet comprising two sets of reinforcing members,the primary set of reinforcing members; consisting of spaced longitudinal members and members forming an edge support and secured to said spaced memgo bers.'said longitudinal members extending to and being secured to the extremity of said nose edge support, all of said members having substantial vertical depth, said primary set being below and in contact with and secured to said sheet to proat vide reinforcement against flexing of any portion of said sheet and against longitudinal bending of said sheet, the second set of members consisting of spaced transverse members mounted below said primary members but extending ver- 00 -tica1ly above the lower plane of the primary members, at least one of said second set of members being mounted in the tapered nose portion of said board and engaging and interfltting with the longitudinal primary members extending into 68 the nose portion, said second set of reinforcing members providing against transverse bending of said sheet and forming with said sheet and said set of primary members a unitary relatively rigid board having a uniformly supported relatively 7o rigid ironing upper surface.

HORACE B. FAY. 

